Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834], at sacred-texts.com
2 Chronicles Chapter 32
The establishment thereof - literally, "the faithfulness thereof" or, in other words, "after these things had been faithfully accomplished."
Ch2 32:1-8 form a passage supplementary to Kg2 18:13-16.
To stop the waters ... - Compare Ch2 32:30. Hezekiah's object was probably twofold - to hide the springs outside the city in order to distress the Assyrians, and to convey their water underground into the city, in order to increase his own supply during the siege.
The "brook" intended is probably not the Kidron, but the natural water-course of the Gihon, which ran down the Tyropoeon valley (compare the Kg1 1:3 note).
The breaches in the wall of Jerusalem were not entirely due to the old hostility of Joash (marginal reference); but may have been caused either by neglect and carelessness in the reign of Ahaz 2 Chr. 28, or by the simple process of natural decay. Hezekiah pulled down houses for the purpose of his repairs Isa 22:10.
On Millo, see the marginal references notes.
The street of the gate ... - Or, "the square at the gate" (compare Ch2 29:4 note). The gate intended is probably that of Ephraim Ch2 25:23 - the great northern gate, opposite the "Camp of the Assyrians " - represented by the modern Damascus gate.
On the language, compare the marginal references, for details, see Isa 22:5-13; Isa 29:3.
The faith, which Hezekiah's words express, presently wavered, died away, and was succeeded by despair and submission (compare Kg2 18:14-16 notes).
The author of Chronicles compresses into 13 verses the history which occupies in Kings a chapter and a half (Kg2 18:17-19; where see the notes).
In the siege - Perhaps "in straitness" (compare Jer 19:9). Jerusalem is thought by some to have been not so much besieged at this time, as distressed and straitened for supplies, because the Assyrians were masters of the open country.
fathers - i. e. "predecessors." Sennacherib really belonged to a dynasty that had only furnished one king before himself.
Guided them ... - A slight alteration of the existing text gives the sense - "gave them rest round about;" a common expression in Chronicles Ch2 15:15; Ch2 20:30.
Compare 2 Kings 20 and notes. The "sign" is not (as in the margin) the miraculous cure, but the going back of the shadow on the dial of Ahaz (see Ch2 32:31).
His heart was lifted up - Compare the marginal reference. Hezekiah's pride was shown in his unnecessarily exhibiting his treasures to the ambassadors from Babylon (see Kg2 20:13).
There was wrath upon him - Compare Kg2 20:17-18.
Hezekiah humbled himself - Perhaps this is the self-humiliation of which Jeremiah speaks (marginal reference) as following on a certain prophecy uttered by Micah. The prophecy Mic 3:12 is by some referred to the earlier part of the reign of Hezekiah; but there is nothing to show that it was not delivered about this time.
See Ch2 32:3 note. Either then or afterward, Hezekiah conducted the water of this spring by an underground channel down the Tyropoeon valley to a pool or reservoir (marginal reference).
And in the book - The "and" is not in the original. The meaning is, that the acts were recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah, which formed a part of the compilation known as "the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel." See Introduction.
The chiefest of the sepulchres - Most modern commentators render - "on the ascent to the sepulchres;" but some think that an excavation above all the other tombs - in the same repository, but at a higher level (see the margin) - is intended. The catacomb of David was full; and the later princes had sepulchres quite distinct from the old burial-place (see Ch2 33:20; Kg2 21:18, Kg2 21:26; Kg2 23:30).